The NHS is a valuable asset which has or will touch all of our lives at some point. There are foundations which require us all to take a part in maintaining the NHS and enabling us to be as healthy as we are able to do within our daily routines.
Public Health Strategy 2020-2025 set out a plan to attempt to make us think carefully about how we can help as a nation to consider lifestyle choices to regain and maintain better health and in this way 'protect' our treasure , the NHS.
When reading this as a member of the public and as an individual I think ' Yep, right I know this and perhaps I may start reducing coffee, sugar, wine and perhaps increase my 'steps' but with the nights drawing in, the outside temperatures cooling, the supermarkets filling with festivity treats for all religious nominations its more than tempting to get home, switch on the TV, snuggle down, eat chocolate, drink some wine and shut the world away.
This year I took a sideways look and my heart sank. I made a daily diary for a fortnight and found the nasty word 'habit' had crept into my life routine. Weekend wine (not large amounts) which equated to three bags of sugar over the weekend. That square of milk chocolate in the evening whilst watching Strictly.
So what can I do?
Researching the web our local councils gave some pretty clear reasons for starting exercise at this time of the year. Exercise gives the following:
- Getting enough physical activity can immediately reduce feelings of anxiety and help you sleep better.
- Being regularly active at a moderate intensity level can help lower risk for heart and lung diseases.
- Regular physical activity can also lower your blood pressure and improve your cholesterol levels.
- Doing aerobic, muscle-strengthening, and bone-strengthening physical activities of at least moderate intensity can slow the loss of bone density.
- Getting the recommended amount of physical activity can lower the risk of many cancers.
- Not getting enough physical activity can increase your risk of developing a chronic disease, which comes with higher health care costs.
- Staying active is good for your health and your wallet, too.
If I then consider reducing the alcohol intake and substituting milk chocolate for 70% dark chocolate my energy levels will improve and I will see a 20 year old staring back at me at last!
Making small changes like this can have a huge impact on profiting our NHS! Check out our website or call for more information about how we can help you this Winter.
Join us in Cassia Health Ltd Brackley for Pilates and classes, and Banbury Private Physiotherapy for Personal training with Jenn.
